₹212.63 crore sanctioned to State under STARS education programme

Kerala has been sanctioned ₹212.63 crore under the Centrally sponsored STARS (Strengthening Teaching-Learning and Results for States) scheme for the 2025-26 year.

The nod for sanction of fund for construction activities was given at a meeting of the project approval board in New Delhi on Friday. General Education Secretary K. Vasuki and Samagra Shiksha Kerala (SSK) Project Director Supriya A.R. attended the meeting. The Union government has promised that the funds will be released soon, a statement from the General Education department said.

STARS is being implemented by the Union Education Ministry with World Bank funding. It supports reforms to improve quality and governance of schools education and focusses on pre-primary education, learning assessment, teacher training, and so on.

The statement said the State government welcomed the Union government decision to extend the STARS programme to 2027.

The Union Ministry of Education has assured the State that a project approval board meeting will be convened soon to sanction pending dues to SSK.

The State government has also initiated steps to complete technicalities, including utilisation certificate, for receiving the second instalment of SSK funds.